Air cooled hand grip



Dec. 10, 1957 c. F. ROBERTS 2,815,679

AIR COOLED HAND GRIP Filed Jan. 31, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /6 4 Fig- BY 'I Dec. 10, 1957 c. F. ROBERTS 2,815,679

AIR COOLED HAND GRIP -Filed Jan. 31, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 Fig. 7

vlansmes' E Roberts INVENToR.

United States Paten-t O eooLEDrHANn GRIP CIarenceF. Roberts, Chicago, Ill., assignor of iftypercent telfawrence F., Sehrieifer, Chicago., Ill.-

Applicationflanuar'y61,1955, Serial No. 485,092

This inventicn comprises .nevel ...and useful imprevements in an aircooledhandgrip, and-more specifically Pel'tillsloferhand .gripsuch asforthefhandle bars of motorcycles or the like and which is provided with means for cooling the hands of the user.

flfheyprimary object of thisjnventionis to provide a hand grip having incorporated therein novel means whereby the grip and the hands of the user may be cooled by the ow of air, thereby increasing the eiciency and the safety of the grip.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hand grip in accordance with the preceding object which may be readily applied to handle bars of conventional bicycles, motorcycles or the like, without alteration being necessary in their structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sturdy hand grip in accordance with the preceding objects wherein a flow of air is induced upon the exterior surface of the grip and beneath the hands of the user.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide an improved hand grip for cooling the hands of the user in which the cooling operation shall in no way interfere with the sturdiness of the grip upon the handle bars of the vehicle, nor the clasping of the hand grip by the user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved air cooled hand grip in which a plurality of streams of air are caused to ow evenly upon the exterior surface of the grip beneath the hands of the user.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of hand grip in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view through the hand grip of Figure 1, taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view taken from the right end of the grip of Figure 1 showing the plurality of air scoops on the forward end of the grip and the inlets for the air conduits communicating with the scoops;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4 4 of Figure 1 and showing the relative arrangement of the channels formed in the exterior surface of the body of the grip;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view taken upon the plane indicated by the section line ure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a motorcycle and its handle bars and showing the manner in which the hand grips are associated therewith;

Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but substantially 5-5 of Figf 2,815,679 Ice Patented Dec. 10, 1957 12 eliminata-slightly niedied construction of the heQd.-gfP

,Figure 8 isayertica1ccutral sectienelyiew taken Substantially vupon the plane indicated by the section llne SVV-m8ef1v`isure 7;

`Figure t9fis agfront ,viewptaken from the right end of Figures 7k and` 8` of the embodiment` of hand grip disclosed therein; and

Figure 1,0 is averticahtransverse sectional view taken substantially upcu theplane indicated by the sectionline 10e-1.0 of. Figure 7.

Referring klr-stto Figure .6, it will he/seen that .the novel hand grip in Vaccordance `with this invention is shown as `intimated upon the handle bars `10 of a conventional ferm 0f.l .n.letercycle,y bicycle er the like 12, the hand grips being indicated generally by the numeral l,14. The `hand .grips 141,nay-b1ev of either the construction shown in Figures 1.-5, or`of the slightly, modified constructionl of Figures'Z-IQ.

Referringtirst to the embodiment of Figures 1.-5it will beseen that` eachhand grip consists of a cylindrical body` portion lwhich hasfa rounded rear end wall 1,8 and.Whiehfatitstfront or. ferwardend iS provided with a plurality of conical-shaped scoops 2h. Conveniently, three such scoops may be employed as clearly indicated in Figures l and 3. Preferably, these scoops are formed integrally with the body 16 and terminate at their forward end in the same transverse plane as that of the forward end of the body, as will be apparent from Figure 2. It will thus be seen that the scoops are formed upon the exterior of the body and thus do not penetrate into the cylindrical interior cavity which is adapted to receive the handle bars 10.

Formed in the exterior surface of the body and extending longitudinally thereof and substantially parallel with respect to each other are a plurality of open channels 22. These channels at their rear end terminate inwardly of the rear end of the body and at their forward end, as shown in the detail View of Figure 5, extend into the rearward end of the scoops 20, and if desired, may extend to the forward end of the body, as shown in Figure 5, and as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. Alternatively, the channels 22 may terminate at their forward ends within the scoops 20 adjacent the rearward ends of the scoops. In any event, it is intended that the channels shall be in communication with the scoops 20 whereby air inducted by the open forward ends of the latter may be delivered into the channels and passing longitudinally along the channels may emerge therefrom in a direction radially outwardly from the body.

As will be apparent from Figures 2`4 in particular, it is preferred to provide a plurality of the channels 22 communicating with each of the scoops 20, Thus, six such channels are shown, two each communicating with each scoop. Since it is preferred that the rear ends of the channels shall be spaced substantially evenly about the circumference of the cylindrical body, it is preferred that the channels shall converge in pairs forwardly of the body in order that they may be disposed at opposite sides of the rear end of the scoop, as will be apparent from Figure 3.

The space between the channels upon the exterior of the body constitutes ridges which may be gripped by the hands of the user of the hand grip. It will thus be apparent that when the hand grip is in normal use, being encircled by the hands of the user, air induced by the forward motion of the motorcycle or the like will pass through the scoops and be distributed into the channels and from the open channels will pass radially outwardly between the hands and fingers of the user, thereby cooling the hands and preventing the formation of perspiration thereon, which, as is well known, constitutes a safety hazard in the use of such vehicles.

In the modification of Figures 7-l0, a generally similar arrangement is shown including the cylindrical body portion 50 having its curved rearward closure wall 52 and having a single conical scoop or funnel 54 integral therewith. In this embodiment, there are provided a plurality of longitudinally extending channels 56 formed in the exterior surface of the cylindrical body, these channels being substantially parallel to each other and at their forward ends communicating with the interior of the scoop at its rear position. In this embodiment, it is preferred to provide conduits in the form of enlarged housings 58 which establish communication between the forward ends of the channels 56 and the interior of the scoop or funnel 54, as through ports or the like 60 therein.

This form of the invention operates in the same manner as the previous form except that a single conical scoop is provided in place of the plurality of conical scoops 20.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation as shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modiiications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An air cooled' hand grip comprising a cylindrical body adapted to receive a handle therein, a plurality of open channels in the exterior surface of said body each extending longitudinally thereof and terminating forwardly of the rear end of said body, a plurality of air scoops upon the forward portion of the exterior surface of said body, means establishing communication between each air scoop and the adjacent ends of a pair of said channels.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each scoop comprises a forwardly and outwardly flaring funnel extending circumferentially about a portion of the circumference of the body whereby to embrace the pair of channels communicating therewith.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,222,121 Roberts Nov. 19, 1940 v FQREIGN PATENTS 20,628 AGreat Britain of 1891 

